APTN News
An Ottawa women’s shelter is applauding the Liberal government’s plan to toughen the laws around intimate partner violence.
Last week, Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould introduced Bill C-75, which aims to modernize the criminal justice system, reduce court delays and crack down on domestic violence.
Irene Compton, program manager at Minwaashin Lodge, says 100 per cent of the clients are survivors of intimate partner violence.
“A lot of them are abused themselves and they haven’t had the chance to go on their healing journey,” said Compton, adding that men are almost always the perpetrators. “There’s not enough supports for them. Maybe they are disconnected from their culture for whatever reasons.”
Under Bill C-75, an accused could be denied bail and kept behind bars until trial, especially if he or she has a history of abuse.
The onus will be on the accused to prove he’s not a continuous threat to his victims.
There will also be harsher penalties for choking a partner, which Compton says is one of the most prevalent forms of abuse.
Compton says Bill C-75 is a good start, but that more work needs to be done to help men.
“We need more men’s organizations,” she says. “We need a men’s lodge here in Ottawa.”
We need shelters for male victims, males escaping domestic abuse have no place to go
We need shelters for male victims, males escaping domestic abuse have no place to go
I agree 100 percent. We need a men’s lodge to bring indigenous men back to our culture where violence against women and children is unacceptable.
I agree 100 percent. We need a men’s lodge to bring indigenous men back to our culture where violence against women and children is unacceptable.